so I finally got out and checked out some of the sights - this is barely any of them there is so much to see its overwhelming anyway here are some pics...







near the media centre crowds go to check out the cauldron which is getting some negative press becasue its behind an ugly fence














pin traders are up and down this area





never seen so much patroitism in canada in my life





don't know what this was - i think it was a protest against global warming perhaps - looked like a polar bear or something










getting closer - apparently stephen colbert was just here and I must have missed him





























you come across cameras and reporters everywhere






containers used as film fest viewing thing





police from all over Canada have been brought in -you can't tell by the pic but 3 officers - one is from Montreal, one from Saskatoon and one is RCMP





inside the container














inside is an on-air guy for CTV network













jameson house under construction














line up for one of the pavillions - the royal canadian mint - that the public can check out





inside a downtown department store russia has set up shop - u can also buy team uniforms hockey jerseys etc from other countries like finalnd, italy, great britain, usa, china, new zealand, australia etc. most of the team jackets are very expensive - the china one is $585 the USA one is $385 and $785













blurry but aww





Canada's first gold medal on home soil winner...






flags are up everywhere





CBC doing its sports on the street









aboriginal pavillion





live city party site - 30 min wait at this time to get in






new lighting









alberta pavillion













Bell cube






an ugly blank wall being used to great effect!





nice use of a bus stop





signs in multiple languages line the street


it looked like a polar bear - by the time i got my camera ready it hasd been put down like that so i couldn';t get the whole thing properly




anyway i went out and got some more pics



crowds outside the canada line - more crowded because a group was busking right here

















still long lines for the royal canadian mint pavillion






near the one germany house beer garden













on the way to see the improved viewing of the cauldron





saw a number of TV crews at the cauldron










the fence was on the other side of the video surveillance before





happier crowds

















in the lineup to the new viewing deck just opened - this is looking at north van






police boats





roof top flags!





looking back where we started - its about 30 mins to lineup





flags are everywhere






getting closer

















media





loud and gassy smelling










my thumb - i was there!









media














omega store inside the hotel vancouver - its just temporary - we had no idea who was showing up but there a small crowd had gathered....





than we see why!

Canada's first gold medal winner!





the crowd grows and media shows up














Michael Phelps





he signed some book









he got a watch


















this is the same kind of watch he received


some pics - my camera battery died at robson square so i went to put in my back up and it was dead too - but by leaving it off a bit it had enough charge to snap a few pics at the NHL party at club bud...




I wanted to take pics of the insane crowd scene I guess I will have to do so tomorrow night instead...



















this guy is from the TV show "V"






Americans in the crowd









the short girl in black sleveless is US figure skater tara lipinski - she is very young and very skinny tiny thing - she has her back to me being interviewd by a tall guy













some actors






us figure skater kristy yamaguchi- also extremely skinny and tiny





michael buble



ok took these on saturday it was kinda drizzly at times but crowds were huge



some random ones on the way...









went to see the flame for the last time...









they moved the sideewalk - i think teh crowds were getting in way of the media centre entrance..
























the rings turn gold when Canada wins a gold medal!





live music on the corner






i don't understand the blank white space





crowd engrossed in mens curling final - really they were watching curling







smart dude selling t-shirts for $10! people were buying em - basically said Canada gold medal game etc







line and crowd at the always popular beard papas










crowds ahead in yaletown





people outside a bar/resto watching curling





ready for the crowds to hit canada line








statue getting a lot of attention





lineup for live city party site - got to check out the 3D TVs at panasonic - very cool





their home at casa italia





inside live city





the line for coca-cola pavillion was about 3 hours i think






random umbrealla street performers





silver elvis





these were at this corner pretty much everyday of the games









always a popular eatery






lights from vectoral elevation





new hot dog place





had quite the crowd












partying at the VAG





granville street crowd





lights in the sky - visible from most laces near and far in the lower mainland